Caroline Schwaller with Mike Martin
Chief executive of Kivca, which works in Keighley and Ilkley, succeeded Mike Martin at the Navca AGM in London
Caroline Schwaller, chief executive of Kivca, which supports voluntary and community groups in Keighley and Ilkley in West Yorkshire, has been elected chair of the local infrastructure body Navca.
Her appointment was confirmed at Navca’s annual general meeting in London yesterday. She succeeds Mike Martin, who had been in the role for the maximum six-year term.
Schwaller, a former vice-chair of Navca, said she was "proud and pleased" to be chosen. "As an experienced chief executive myself and a former board member, I fully understand that Navca is all about our closeness to our members, and our members' closeness to the 160,000 local groups we in turn support," she said. "We face tough times at the moment, but are determined to stay true to our mission."
At the same meeting, Navca members gave their backing to a motion to continue the merger talks with Community Matters, the national federation for community organisations. There were 40 votes in favour and one against. Community Matters’ members endorsed a potential merger at its AGM last month.
